Mechanical movement device



Aug. 24, 1948., R. w. CARTER ,4

MECHANICAL MOVEMENTIDEVICE Filed 001: 17, 1946 "HU W" I F16 1 mum 3s I925 FIG.3'

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MECHANICALMOVEME-NT DEVICE Russell w carter, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor of thirtyper cent to Whcelock and Cummins, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, a corporationof Iowa Application'october 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,792

4 Claim.

This invention relates to a mechanical movement translating device andparticularly to a mechanical movementwherein the motion of a rotatingprime mover is translated to one shaft which rotates continuously atconstant speed and is also translated, to another shaft which is rotatedfirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction, or in otherwords, oscillated about its axis of rotation. The invention isparticularly applicable to driving the Wringer or spinner and theoscillating agitator mechanism of a domestic clothes washing machine,but is not limited thereto.

It is an object of the invention to provide a very simple, low costmechanical movement translating device of the type above referred towherein gears, reversing devices and clutches are dispensed with. I

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanical movementof the type described wherein the shaft whichis oscillated may beoscillated through more than 180 of rotation, if desired, andwherein'the amountof oscillation may be readily adopted for theparticular device to which the movement is applied.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanical movementof the type described which has an extremely longlife and is capable ofeffecting millions of reciprocations of the agitator mechanism withoutundue wear.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanical movementtranslating device which is capable of producing relatively greatturning torque on both a continuously rotating shaft and on anoscillating shaft.

It is an important object of the invention to utilize belt drivesexclusively for effecting the mechanical motions described herein.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a. bottom plan view of the mechanical movement devicelooking upward toward the tub of a domestic washing machine;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device taken on line 22 of Figure l;and

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the mechanical movement devicetaken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, the dot and dash. lines indicating adifferent position which the parts assume as the prime mover is rotated.

Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of theinvention, numeral ll designates the bottomof a, washing machine tubwhich has a prime mover in the form of s. rotating electric motor l2suspended therefrom by a bracket IS. The motor I2 is provided with asheave M which drives a large pulley I5 preferably through a V-belt 16.The pulley I5 is likewise provided with a small sheave I! which drives alarge master pulley l8 preferably through a V-belt IS. The master pulleyi8 is provided with a hub 20 which is 'ournalled and freely rotates on ashaft 2|, which, ina washing machine, is an oscillating agitator shaft.The shaft 2! is used for convenience, although an additional shaft couldbe provided, if desired, as will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds. Obviously, the size of the sheaves and pulleys thus fardescribed may be varied to secure any speed reduction or variationdesired. v

The hub 20 is provided with a smaller sheave 22, located belowthe masterpulley, although it could be located above, if desired. Theysheave22drives apulley 23 through a V-belt 24, the pulley 23 being keyed at 25to a shaft 26, which, in a washing machine, is a wringer shaft and iscontinuously rotated in one direction as the master pulleylS and hub 20rotate.

An eccentrically disposed trackway 21 is keyed to the hub 20 at 2B andis providedwlth a pcripheral flange 29, on which an L-shaped ring 3| isslidably supported. An arm 32 is rigidly secured to thering 3| andextends radially therefrom outwardly of the circumference of the ring3|. A pulley 33 is keyed at 30 to the agitator shaft 2| and is driven bya V-belt 34, to which the outer end of the arm 32 is secured, which belt34 passes around an idler sheave 35 iournalled and freely rotatable onwringer or spinner shaft 26 and supported by collar 36. The shaft 28 isused for convenience, although a separate bearing may be provided foridler sheave 35, if desired.

The various pulleys, sheaves and shafts may be supported from thewashing machine in any suitable manner, such structure forming no partof the present invention.

Operation In operation, when the motor I2 is energized. pulley I5 isrotated, which drives master pulley I8, hub 20 and sheave 22. Thewringer or spinner shaft 26 is, therefore, rotated continuously in onedirection, it being obvious that the size of the sheaves 22 and 23 maybe varied to obtain From the foregoing it will be apparent that I haveprovided a simple, inexpensive mechanical motion for imparting rotatingmovement to one element and oscillating movement to another element,which motion is particularly adaptable to clothes washing machine'siFurthermore, the

full power of the prime mover is utilized with very little frictionalloss and long life of theparts is insured. I

" some changes may 'be'm'alde in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my mechanical movement device without-departing from the realspirit aiidpurpo'se of my invention, and it is my intention to cover bymy claims any modified forms'of structure or use "of mechanicalequivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope withoutsacrificing any of the advantages thereof. 4

I-ela'izn "as my invention:

1'." A mechanical motion device comprising a rotating prime mover, afirst shaft, means for transmitting the'motion of the prime mover torotate said-firstshaft-continuously in one directien, said meansincluding a masterpulley, a secdnd shaft a trackway' mounted*eocentrically with respectto said second shaft and rotated by saidmaster pulley, a pulley secured to said secohd ehai-t, an idler pulleyjournal-led on said first shaft, a belt connecting said last twopulleys, and means for eotln'e'qmii'lg said eccentric trackway tosaidbelt to reciprocate the belt'and oscillate 'said second shaft.

'- 2. "A meehanic'al motion device comprising a rotating rime mover, afirst shaft, a second shaft, means for transmitting the motion of theprime mover to rotate'said first shaft continuously in one direction,said means inducing a master pub ieyjou rnalledonsaid second shaft,a-pulley driven bysaid master pulley-anuseeured thereto, a second pulleysecured to said second shaft, a "pulley secured to said :ilrst shaft, anidler pulley journalledonsaid first shait, a belt connecting the pulleysecured to the master pulley with the pulley secured to the first shaft,a second belt connecting the pulley secured to the second shaft and theidler pulley on the first shaft, and means for imparting reciprocatingmotion to said second belt, which means is driven by said master pulleyto illate a e q a t '3. Drive mechanism for a clothes washing machinecomprising a rotating prime mover, a

wringer shaft, means for transmitting the motion of the prime mover torotate said wringer shaftjcontinuously in one direction, said meansincluding a master pulley, an agitator shaft, a traoi w'ayinduntedeccentrically with respect to said agitator shaft and rotated bysaid master puiie'yja pulley secured to said agitator shaft, an

idlel pulley'ioui halled on said wringer shaft, a

belt connecting said last two pulleys, and means fbr'cohnecting saideccentric trackway to said belt to reciprocate the belt and oscillatesaid agitator shaft.

4. A drive fora clothes washing machine comprising a rotating primemover, a wringer shaft, an agitator shaft, means for transmitting themotionef the prime mover to rotate said wringer shaft continuously inone-direction, said means including a master pulley journal1ed on saidagitator shaft, a pulley driven by said master pulley jo'urnalledon saidagitator shaft, a second pulley secured to said agitator shaft, a pulleysecured to said wringer shaft, an idler pulley journalled on saidwringer shaft, a belt connecting the pulley driven by the master pulleywith the pulley secured to 'the'wrihgfer shaft, a second belt connectingthe pulley secured to the agitator shaft and the idler pulley on thewringer shaft, and means forinipar'ting reciprocating motion tosaidsecond belt, which means is driven by "said master pulley to oscillatesaid agitator shaft.

RUSSELL C RT R.

REFERENCES omen The iollowing'references are of record in the file ofthis patent":

'UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,335 Bloom l l Dec. 15,1891 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date

